Attrition resistant proppant composite and its composition matters

Abstract

A hydraulic fracturing and gravel packing proppant composite with protectant on the surface of the proppant and the composition matters of the protectant and proppant. The surface protectant reduces the generation of dust/fines from the proppant caused by abrasion and impingement during transportation and conveyance, particularly pneumatic transfer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surface modified proppant comprising:
 a proppant; and 
 a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel. 
 
     
     
       2. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant. 
     
     
       3. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating is non-toxic to humans. 
     
     
       5. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating is not an ionic polymer. 
     
     
       6. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       7. The surface modified proppant of  claim 6  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       8. The surface modified proppant of  claim 7  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       9. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the proppant is substantially dust free. 
     
     
       10. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       11. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the chemical coating comprises glycerin-based coating, vegetable oil/wax-based coating, tall oil pitch based coating, alkyl ester based coating, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       12. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       13. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating. 
     
     
       14. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant. 
     
     
       15. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       16. The surface modified proppant of  claim 15  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       17. The surface modified proppant of  claim 15  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       18. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used. 
     
     
       19. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  further comprising a chemical marker. 
     
     
       20. The surface modified proppant of  claim 19  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       21. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating. 
     
     
       22. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       23. The surface modified proppant of  claim 22  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The surface modified proppant of  claim 1  where the coating does not require curing or drying. 
     
     
       25. A surface modified proppant comprising:
 a proppant; and 
 a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel, 
 
       where the surface modified proppant has a Turbidity Reduction Factor greater than about 35%. 
     
     
       26. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin. 
     
     
       27. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the chemical coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel. 
     
     
       28. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant. 
     
     
       29. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       30. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating is non-toxic to humans. 
     
     
       31. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       32. The surface modified proppant of  claim 31  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       33. The surface modified proppant of  claim 32  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       34. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the proppant is substantially dust free. 
     
     
       35. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       36. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the chemical coating comprises glycerin-based coating, vegetable oil/wax-based coating, tall oil pitch based coating, alkyl ester based coating, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       37. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       38. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating. 
     
     
       39. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant. 
     
     
       40. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       41. The surface modified proppant of  claim 40  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       42. The surface modified proppant of  claim 40  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       43. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used. 
     
     
       44. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  further comprising a chemical marker. 
     
     
       45. The surface modified proppant of  claim 44  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       46. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating. 
     
     
       47. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       48. The surface modified proppant of  claim 47  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       49. The surface modified proppant of  claim 25  where the coating does not require curing or drying. 
     
     
       50. A material for creating a coating on a proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing, the material comprising low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and being less than 2 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material, where the coating is not a hydrogel. 
     
     
       51. The material of  claim 50  where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant. 
     
     
       52. The material of  claim 50  where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       53. The material of  claim 50  where the material is non-toxic to humans. 
     
     
       54. The material of  claim 50  where the material is less than 1 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material. 
     
     
       55. The material of  claim 50  where the material is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the proppant receiving the material. 
     
     
       56. The material of  claim 50  further comprising a chemical marker. 
     
     
       57. The material of  claim 56  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       58. The material of  claim 50  further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       59. The material of  claim 58  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       60. A method of producing a surface modified proppant, the method comprising:
 adding a chemical coating to a proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel; and 
 mixing the coating and the proppant or spraying the coating on the proppant to produce the surface modified proppant. 
 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60  where the coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 60  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 62  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 63  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       65. The method of  claim 60  where the mixing occurs in a powered continuous mechanical blender, a powered batch mechanical blender, a static mixer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       66. The method of  claim 60  further comprising:
 adding a second chemical coating to the surface modified proppant; and 
 mixing the second chemical coating and the surface modified proppant. 
 
     
     
       67. The method of  claim 60  where the coating does not require curing or drying. 
     
     
       68. The method of  claim 60  where the coating comprises multiple coatings and where the multiple coatings are applied simultaneously or sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       69. The method of  claim 68  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       70. The method of  claim 68  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating, the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       71. A method of reducing proppant attrition anywhere in a proppant supply chain, the method comprising using a surface modified proppant, where the surface modified proppant comprises:
 a proppant; and 
 a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating is low molecular weight polyethylene glycol-based or comprises a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel. 
 
     
     
       72. The method of  claim 71  where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       73. The method of  claim 71  where the chemical coating is not a thermoset polymer, not an ionic polymer, not a thermoplastic elastomer, and not a hydrogel. 
     
     
       74. The method of  claim 71  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       75. The method of  claim 71  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       76. The method of  claim 71  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       77. The method of  claim 71  where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through mechanical mixing, spray, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       78. The method of  claim 71  where the coating comprises multiple coatings and where the multiple coatings are applied simultaneously or sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       79. The method of  claim 78  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       80. The method of  claim 78  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating, the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       81. The method of  claim 71  where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used. 
     
     
       82. The method of  claim 71  where the surface modified proppant further comprises a chemical marker. 
     
     
       83. The method of  claim 82  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       84. The method of  claim 71  where the surface modified proppant further comprises a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       85. The method of  claim 84  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       86. The method of  claim 71  where the coating does not require curing or drying. 
     
     
       87. A surface modified proppant comprising:
 a proppant; and 
 a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating consists essentially of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin, and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel. 
 
     
     
       88. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant. 
     
     
       89. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       90. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       91. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       92. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       93. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the proppant is substantially dust free. 
     
     
       94. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       95. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       96. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating. 
     
     
       97. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant. 
     
     
       98. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       99. The surface modified proppant of  claim 98  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       100. The surface modified proppant of  claim 98  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       101. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used. 
     
     
       102. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  further comprising a chemical marker. 
     
     
       103. The surface modified proppant of  claim 102  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       104. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating. 
     
     
       105. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       106. The surface modified proppant of  claim 105  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       107. The surface modified proppant of  claim 87  where the coating does not require curing or drying. 
     
     
       108. A surface modified proppant comprising:
 a proppant; and 
 a chemical coating at least partially covering the proppant, where the chemical coating consists essentially of:
 low molecular weight polyethylene glycol or a combination of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and glycerin, low molecular weight polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol, or low molecular weight polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin; and 
 water, 
 
 
       and where the chemical coating is not a hydrogel. 
     
     
       109. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating increases the attrition resistance of the proppant. 
     
     
       110. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating reduces the generation of dust/fines of the proppant upon shipping, handling, pneumatic air unloading, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       111. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating is less than 2 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       112. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating is less than 1 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       113. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating is 0.05 to 0.20 wt. % of the surface modified proppant. 
     
     
       114. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the proppant is substantially dust free. 
     
     
       115. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the proppant comprises raw substrate, including sand, ceramic, or composite material, composites, minerals, ground shells, resin coated proppants, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       116. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the chemical coating is applied to the proppant through spray, mechanical mixing, non-mechanical mixing, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       117. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating reduces attrition of the proppant upon shipping, handling, and/or pneumatic air unloading compared to the proppant without the coating. 
     
     
       118. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied simultaneously onto the proppant. 
     
     
       119. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating comprises multiple coatings, where the coatings are applied sequentially onto the proppant. 
     
     
       120. The surface modified proppant of  claim 119  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a different chemical composition than the second coating. 
     
     
       121. The surface modified proppant of  claim 119  where the multiple coatings comprise a first coating and a second coating and where the first coating has a chemical composition, the second coating has a chemical composition, and the chemical composition of the first coating is the same as the chemical composition of the second coating. 
     
     
       122. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating is applied to the proppant prior to the proppant being used. 
     
     
       123. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  further comprising a chemical marker. 
     
     
       124. The surface modified proppant of  claim 123  where the chemical marker is a colorant, a UV dye, a conductivity enhancing chemical, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       125. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating comprises a thick layer of coating, a thin layer of coating, or a partial layer of coating. 
     
     
       126. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  further comprising a frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent. 
     
     
       127. The surface modified proppant of  claim 126  where the frac fluid delay-crosslinking agent is betaine, gluconate, polyglycol, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       128. The surface modified proppant of  claim 108  where the coating does not require curing or drying.